[[United States Vital Records|Vital Records]] consist of [[United States Birth Records|births]], adoptions, [[United States Marriage Records|marriages]], divorces, and [[United States Death Records|deaths]] recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. [[Locating United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]]&nbsp;has&nbsp;additional research guidance&nbsp;on researching and using vital records. A copy or an extract of most original records can be&nbsp;purchased from&nbsp;the [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/Mississippi.htm Mississippi Vital Records State Department of Health] or the&nbsp;County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.

[[United States Vital Records|Vital Records]] consist of [[United States Birth Records|births]], adoptions, [[United States Marriage Records|marriages]], divorces, and [[United States Death Records|deaths]] recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. [[Locating United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]]&nbsp;has&nbsp;additional research guidance&nbsp;on researching and using vital records. A copy or an extract of most original records can be&nbsp;purchased from&nbsp;the [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/Mississippi.htm Mississippi Vital Records State Department of Health] or the&nbsp;County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.

The following is a list of online resources useful for locating Mississippi Vital Records which consist of [[United States Birth Records|births]], adoptions, [[United States Marriage Records|marriages]], divorces, and [[United States Death Records|deaths]]. Check [[Mississippi_Vital_Records|Mississippi Vital Records&nbsp;Online]] for more information about the resources listed below. Most online resources for Mississippi Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to [[Contradictions and discrepancies|confirm the information]] in the index. '''<br>'''

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The following is a list of online resources useful for locating Mississippi Vital Records which consist of [[United States Birth Records|births]], adoptions, [[United States Marriage Records|marriages]], divorces, and [[United States Death Records|deaths]]. Check [[Mississippi_Vital_Records|Mississippi Vital Records&nbsp;Online]] for more information about the resources listed below. Most online resources for Mississippi Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to [[Contradictions and discrepancies|confirm the information]] in the index. '''<br>'''

State registration of births and deaths in [[Portal:Mississippi|Mississippi]] began in November 1912, and was generally complied with by 1921. The Family History Library does not have copies of the state records. You can obtain information by writing to:

State registration of births and deaths in [[Mississippi]] began in November 1912, and was generally complied with by 1921. The Family History Library does not have copies of the state records. You can obtain information by contacting:

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The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed in ''Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces'' <ref>(Hyattsville Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993; Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=822713&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=Where+to+write+for+vital+records%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 973 V24vw]). </ref>Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Library and at many family history centers.

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[http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/31,0,109.html '''Mississippi State Department of Health''']<br>2423 North State Street<br>Jackson, MS 39216<br>Telephone: 601-960-7981<br>

Individuals who were born prior to 1912, or who for some reason do not have a birth certificate, can apply for a delayed certificate of birth. The State Board of Health began keeping delayed certificates of birth in 1912. Some of the records are kept at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Individuals who were born prior to 1912, or who for some reason do not have a birth certificate, can apply for a delayed certificate of birth. The State Board of Health began keeping delayed certificates of birth in 1912. Some of the records are kept at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

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For information about county birth and death records prior to 1912, contact the local county health department. The county health departments do not usually have records of births and deaths occurring after November 1, 1912. The clerks in these offices cannot do research for genealogists. However, they can send a copy of a specific record of an individual.

For information about county birth and death records prior to 1912, contact the local county health department. The county health departments do not usually have records of births and deaths occurring after November 1, 1912. The clerks in these offices cannot do research for genealogists. However, they can send a copy of a specific record of an individual.

The Department of Archives and History has an index of pre-1926 Mississippi marriages. The State Board of Health has an index to marriages (male names only) from 1926 to the present. The Family History Library does not have copies of the state records or indexes.

The Department of Archives and History has an index of pre-1926 Mississippi marriages. The State Board of Health has an index to marriages (male names only) from 1926 to the present. The Family History Library does not have copies of the state records or indexes.

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most existing marriage records to about 1926. For example, the library has 26 microfilms from the Adams County Circuit Clerk that include marriage records, (1802-1927), an index to white marriages, (1802-1927), and an index to African-American (designated as “colored”) marriages (1866-1942).

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most existing marriage records to about 1926. For example, the library has 26 microfilms from the Adams County Circuit Clerk that include marriage records, (1802-1927), an index to white marriages, (1802-1927), and an index to African-American (designated as “colored”) marriages (1866-1942).

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'''A wiki article describing an onliine collection is found at:'''<br>

You can learn more about the history and availability of Mississippi vital records in ''Guide to Vital Statistics in Mississippi: Volume 1''. <ref>Public Archives (Jackson, Mississippi: Historical Records Survey, 1942; Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=193877&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=Guide+to+vital+statistics+records+in+Mis%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 book 976.2 V23h; film 1036275]). </ref>

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You can learn more about the history and availability of Mississippi vital records in ''Guide to Vital Statistics in Mississippi: Volume 1''. <ref>Public Archives (Jackson, Mississippi: Historical Records Survey, 1942; Family History Library {{FHL|193877|title-id|disp=book 976.2 V23h; film 1036275}}). </ref>

Mississippi Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online

The following is a list of online resources useful for locating Mississippi Vital Records which consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths. Check Mississippi Vital Records Online for more information about the resources listed below. Most online resources for Mississippi Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to confirm the information in the index.

Birth and Death Records

State registration of births and deaths in Mississippi began in November 1912, and was generally complied with by 1921. The Family History Library does not have copies of the state records. You can obtain information by contacting:

Individuals who were born prior to 1912, or who for some reason do not have a birth certificate, can apply for a delayed certificate of birth. The State Board of Health began keeping delayed certificates of birth in 1912. Some of the records are kept at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

County Records of Births and Deaths

A few counties kept birth and death records as early as 1879. These early records were kept intermittently and are very incomplete. The Family History Library has copies of these records for Hancock, Harrison, Lauderdale, Panola, and Tallahatchie counties. The State Board of Health has early records for Harrison, Hinds, and Pike counties.

For information about county birth and death records prior to 1912, contact the local county health department. The county health departments do not usually have records of births and deaths occurring after November 1, 1912. The clerks in these offices cannot do research for genealogists. However, they can send a copy of a specific record of an individual.

Adoption

Marriage Records

State Records of Marriages

State registration of marriages began in 1926. The State Board of Health (address above) has records from 1 January 1926 to 31 July 1938 and from 1 January 1942 to the present. Records for the 1938 to 1942 interim period are available from the county circuit court office in each county.

The Department of Archives and History has an index of pre-1926 Mississippi marriages. The State Board of Health has an index to marriages (male names only) from 1926 to the present. The Family History Library does not have copies of the state records or indexes.

County Records of Marriages

Many counties began recording marriages as early as 1800. Unfortunately, only about one-half of the pre-1850 marriage records have survived. The circuit courts have the county marriage records from the earliest years to the present.

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most existing marriage records to about 1926. For example, the library has 26 microfilms from the Adams County Circuit Clerk that include marriage records, (1802-1927), an index to white marriages, (1802-1927), and an index to African-American (designated as “colored”) marriages (1866-1942).

Divorce Records

Divorce proceedings are usually kept by the chancery court in each county and are usually interfiled with other court matters. The Family History Library has microfilmed the chancery court records for most Mississippi counties.

A statewide index of divorces (male names only) from the 1920s to the present is available at the State Board of Health. This office will search the divorce index for a fee.

Substitute Records

Tips

Information listed on vital records is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record. The closer the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help determine the accuracy of the information found on the record.

If you are unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search for church records of christening, marriage,, death or burial. A family Bible may have been used to record births, marriges and deaths.

Records of African Americans may be recorded in separate files with separate indexes.

Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records. Copies of some vital arecords recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailable to anyone except a direct relative.

Search for Vital Records in the Family History Library Catalog by using a Place Search and then choosing Vital Records. Search for Mississippi to locate records filed by the State and then search thename of the county to locate records kept by the county.